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Prov. Call hither Barnardine and Claudio:

One has my pity; not a jot the other,

Being a murtherer, "though he were my brother.”,
Enter CLAUDIO.

Look, here's the warrant, Claudio, for thy death :.
'Tis now dead midnight, and by eight to-morrow
Thou must be made immortal. Where's Barnardine
Claud. As fast lock'd up in sleep, as guiltless la-

bour

When it lies starkly in the traveller's bones:

He will not wake.

Prov. Who can do good on him?

150

Well, go, prepare yourself. [Exit. CLAUD.] "But, "hark, what noise?"

[Knock within. Heaven give your spirits comfort!" By and by ;"I hope it is some pardon, or reprieve,

"For the most gentle Claudio.-"Welcome, father.

Enter Duke.

Duke. The best and wholesomest spirits of the

night

Invellop you, good provost! Who call'd here of late?

Prov. None, since the curfew rung.

Duke. Not Isabel?

Prov. No.

Duke. They will then, ere't be long.

Prov. What comfort is for Claudio?

Duke. There's some in hope.

Prov. It is a bitter deputy.

Hij

60

Duke.

Duke. Not so, not so; his life is parallel'd
Even with the stroke and line of his great justice;
He doth with holy abstinence subdue

That in himself, which he spurs on his power
To qualify in others were he meal'd

:

170

With that, which he corrects, then were he tyran

nous;

But this being so, he's just.-Now are they come.-[Knock. Provost goes out.

This is a gentle provost; Seldom, when

The steeled gaoler is the friend of men.

How now? what noise? that spirit's possess'd with

haste,

That wounds the unresisting postern with these

strokes.

Provost returns, 8.6

speaking to one at the Door."

Prov. There must he stay, until the officer.

Arise to let him in; he is call'd up.

Duke. Have you no countermand for Claudio yet,

But he must die to-morrow ?

Prov. None, sir, none.

Duke. As near the dawning, provost, as it is,

You shall hear more ere morning.

Prov. Happily,

You something know; yet, I believe there comes
No countermand; "no such example have we :

"Besides, upon the very siege of justice,"
Lord Angelo hath to the publick ear

Profess'd the contrary..

81

.190 Enter

Enter a Messenger.

Duke. This is his lordship's man.

Prov. And here comes Claudio's pardon. . . Mess. My lord hath sent you this note; and by me this further charge, that you swerve not from the smallest article of it, neither in time, matter, or other circumstance. Good morrow; for, as I take it, it is almost day.

[ Exit Messenger.

Prov. I shall obey him.
Duke. "This is his pardon; purchas'd by such sin,

"For which the pardoner himself is in :

"Hence hath offence his quick celerity,

[Aside.

200

"When it is borne in high authority:

"When vice makes mercy, mercy's so extended, "That, for the fault's love, is the offender friended.----!” Now, sir, what news?

Prov. I told you: Lord Angelo, be-like, thinking me remiss in my office, awakens me with this unwonted putting on: methinks, strangely; for he hath not us'd it before.

Duke. Pray you, lets's hear.

Provost reads the Letter.

Whatsoever you may hear to the contrary, let Claudio be executed by four of the clock; and, in the afternoon, Barnardine: for my better satisfaction, let me have Claudio's head sent me by five. Let this be duly perform'd; with a thought that more depends on it than we must yet. Hiij deliver.

deliver. Thus fail not to do your office, as you will an

swer it at your peril.

What say you to this, sir?

Duke. What is that Barnardine, who is to be executed in the afternoon? ·

220

Prov. A Bohemian born; but here nurs'd up and bred: one that is a prisoner nine years old.

Duke. How came it, that the absent duke had not either deliver'd him to his liberty, or executed him? I have heard, it was ever his manner to do so.

Prou. His friends still wrought reprieves for him : And, indeed, his fact, till now in the government of lord Angelo, came not to an undoubtful proof.

Duke. Is it now apparent?

Prov. Most manifest, and not deny'd by himself. Duke. Hath he borne himself penitently in prison ? how seems he to be touch'd? 232

Prov. A man that apprehends death, no more dreadfully, but as a drunken sleep; careless, reckless, and fearless of what's past, present, or to come; insensible of mortality, and desperately mortal.

Duke. He wants advice.

.

Prov. He will hear none:" he hath evermore had "the liberty of the prison; give him leave to escape hence he would not: drunk many times a day, if not many days entirely drunk." We have very often awak'd him, as if to carry him to execution, "andl shew'd him a seeming warrant for it; it hath not anoved him at all.

Duke. More of him anon. There is written in your

brow,

brow, Provost, honesty and constancy; if I read it not truly, my ancient skill beguiles me; but in the boldness of my cunning, I will lay myself in hazard. Claudio, whom here you have a warrant to execute, is no greater forfeit to the law than, Angelo who hath sentenc'd him: To make you understand this in a manifested effect, I crave but four days respite; for the which you are to do me both a present and a dangerous courtesy.

Prov. Pray sir, in what ?
Duke. In the delaying death.

251

Prov. Alack! how may I do it? having the hour limited; and an express command, under penalty, to deliver his head in the view of Angelo? I may make any case as Claudio's, to cross this in the smallest.

Duke. By the vow of mine order, I warrant you, if my instructions may be your guide. Let this Barnardine be this morning executed, and his head borne to Angelo. 264

Prov. Angelo hath seen them, both, and will discover the favour,

Duke. Oh, death's a great disguisers and you may add to it. Shave the head, "and tie the beard" and say, it was the desire of the penitent “to be so barb'd” before his death? you know the course is common. If any thing fall to you upon this, more than thanks and good fortune, by, the, saint whom I profess, I will plead against it with, my life, eta is turi @73 Prov. Pardon me, good father it is against my Gath.

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